C1 HIS BIRTH

She hasn't the slightest idea how she got there. But she knows she is here now and that's all that matters. She opened her eyes to the wilderness and the wind outside won't stop blowing heavily. She clutched to herself with the bruises and barely made it out of the cave. He is born. And she had waited, centuries upon centuries for him. The journey she had envisioned had started on short notice and her life depend on how far she can go with it. She needs to save Calliope for what it takes. There will be war in their household and it's near. She tipped on her toe, shivering till she got out of the cave. She heard howling and of course, the beat of the Warnrin empire. She hardly put up with it. She just needs to escape.

* * *

"You can't allow any of those kids take your father's love away from you Malthus. You belong here."

"How many times have we gone over this Mum? I can't force Dad to love me. We're more than four with him. And you were the last wife. I am not competing with anyone." He retorted.

"I am not asking you to compete Mal. I just want you to belong here. Please my baby."

"I'm here already Mum. Trust me, I belong here. Let Dad know that I did. I can't beg for attention. Besides, we all can see it all rested on Landon now. He is the favorite. No one wants me here."

"Don't say that. We all wants you here. Your father and I and your sister...."

"I don't have a sister. She made it clear we weren't related."

"She was only pissed....."

"Mum! You just like taking sides, don't you? She is my sister and I know. She doesn't want me." He said angrily before leaving the scenario and out of sight.

Melanie twisted her fingers hard and clenched her teeth. This was definitely out of space for her. She wants her son to fit in to the heart of her husband who hardly take notice of the boy eversince his birth eighteen years ago. And she doesn't want mockery from either of the other two wives. She might be a concubine, and her children might be illegitimates but they belong here and she want them to make their presence known. She had been trying this for almost decades and Malthus is not yielding. Although, Courtney seems to be working towards it and is already battling her way out of being an illegitimate. But Malthus is not trying.

"Mum, what are you doing here? Mrs Mate wants to see you before the audit." Courtney said as she walked closer to her mother.

"I'm not going to the audit Court." She answered weakly.

"You can't tell me that. We went over this for how many days? Is this because of Malthus again?" She bellowed.

"No. Of course not."

"Then why? Why? This is my chance of gaining father's attention and you're going to jeopardize that?"

"I'm not jeopardizing anything Courtney. You're a girl. You don't need all this." Melanie answered as she stood up weakly and made for the lobby.

"Is this what this is all about? Me being a girl?" She bawled angrily after her.

"Work yourself up Courtney. You're hardworking enough." Melanie answered not looking back till she disappeared out of sight.

She sat on the mere marble floor and weep. She has been preparing for the audit for the past three weeks and now, not even her mother will show up for it. Then why going? She stayed there and continue weeping until Mrs Mate came over.

"Your father needs you in the chamber." She said passionately, rubbing her hand on her shoulder.

" I'm not seeing him. He didn't need me."

"You can't say that Court. We all needs you."

"Then, why is mum turning her back on me? Because of Mal? She turned away from me because of him." She cried profusely.

"She won't do that. She is a mother and a mother will never be preferential. Just take it easy. See your father."

For some minutes, she wince. Then agreed to meet with her father.

Malthus walked through the valley down to the old house library where his grandfather used to stay all day before his death.

Malthus was born three weeks after the death of Hunter, his grandfather. So, he didnt get to know him. But for some reasons, Malthus was known to have uncanny interest in the old library. He is always seen there.

He sat down on the shaker as usual and stare at the catalogue and rails. He doesn't want to be recognized and he definitely want none of the wealth to himself. Not even his father's company and he knew his mother won't stop pestering him till he accepted. But he doesn't want to.

Landon and Colton were already in loggerheads and Chad will stop at nothing till he work his way through. They all want in. And to add salt to injury, his father didn't recognize his existence. So, why bothering himself? They hardly talked. And for weeks, they might not even see each other. He knew he wasn't like other children. He was unwanted, just like weed. He grew where he wasn't wanted. Illegitimate and unwanted. Even with the look his father always throw at him, he knew he didn't want him. And fortunately for him as well, he didn't want to belong there. They were six. Four boys and two girls. Landon and Chad were for Orlena and Colton and Ariel were Laura's and those were the legitimate wives and children. He and Courtney were the unwanted ones given birth to by Melanie, their mother. So, he is not wanted. They were not wanted. Courtney is trying to find her stance but Mal is not trying and this has become a thing of disturb for his mother.

He found himself in a cave. It was dark and he can clearly hear the howling of the wolves. It was cold and it seems to be snoring. He clutched to himself and started clenching his teeth and shivering. From afar, he saw fire emancipating from a camp of thousand tents. He couldn't moved and the cliff was as slippery. He just stood there, shaking.

"Axel! Axel! Axel!!" He heard the name continuously.

He jolted back to life by the tapping on his shoulders.

"Mum.!" He called weakly as he embraced her tightly, sweating and shivering.

"I had the dream again." He said anxiously.

"How may times have I told you not to come down here again? You need to start yielding or else, I'll make them lock this place up." She threatened.

"You can't do that." He objected.

"Then stop coming here and focus on what you're here for. Don't make me regret giving birth to you." She said angrily and left.

Wilson Scott corporation, Wilsoncorp in short, is the largest corporation in the whole country and ranked number six in the world. Owned and distributed by Wilson Scott. Wilson Scott is a very hard and disciplined man and the man behind millions of other small corporate in the empire. Billionaire and father of six, husband of three. The corporate was passed down from generations to generations. And in the history of the Wilson's, none of the past great men ever married more than a wife and just a child. But Scott, will be the first to break the unbreakable history of the Wilson's. And now, nemesis seems to be lurking around the corner. In some ways, he didn't care about any of the children but then, on the long run, he knew he had committed a formidable sin. He had made enemies admist his children and he is not finding a way of bringing them back. He only wish he had married Melanie. And he had harboured the hatred for his father for that.

When he was young, he had always wanted to marry Melanie. But, she wasn't from the corporates and her father doesn't even have a name to recon with. So, his father had objected.

So, he had married Orlena. Though, stayed unconsummated for a year and half, he wants Melanie. And when he realised there was another way to provoke his father, he decided to marry Laura, without informing anyone. He did a close marriage for her alone at a church with the absence of his father. Though, Laura's father was one of the Wilson's corporate, but Hunter tried his best to make them divorce but none of it worked out. And when Hunter is close to leaving the company due to old age for Scott to take over, he made out with Melanie. So, he ended up with three wives and six children. So, he blamed his father for his misfortunes all his entire life.

Courtney sat inside her dressing room rummaging on how she is going to make the audit work without the presence of her mother. Although, her father will come and she only want to impress him, but she needs her mother to be present as well. And now, she is not going to show up. The door creaked opened and Ariel walked in.

"You're up in few hours. I supposed you should be on your way to the audit by now. Illegitimate Princess." She said scoffing.

"And what right did you have for storming into my room?" She bawled.

"Oh?! I have no right now? In my father's house?"

"I'm sure each was assigned to their rooms. Unless you want something out of this."

"Of course Court. I don't see any reason in trying to get the attention of someone who doesn't even know you existed. Dad will never be impressed."

"And thanks for the little advice. I'll take them to heart. Now, can you leave my dressing room?" Courtney demanded angrily.

"School is starting next week. Just pray not to be put in the same dorm as me. Or you're doomed." Ariel threatened.

"We shall see to that." Courtney replied strongly. Ariel chucked wickedly before finding her way out of the room and Courtney sighed with relief.

Living in the house has been paradise on hell for her. But she is strong and she knew she can find her way to stance.

Mrs Mate came in shortly after.

"It's time." She announced.

"Of course. Is mum coming now?"

"I'm sorry but she is not." Mrs Mate replied.

"Oh! And Mal?"

"He is not in."

"He has probably gone to that old forsaken library again. Don't you find anything odd about the boy Mrs Mate?"

"I don't. He is a perfect man."

"Mal is no man. He is just eighteen."

"Eighteen is old Courtney."

"He doesn't behave like eighteen. He just talks like old man. I hate him."

"You can't hate your brother."

"He is no brother to me. He took away mum's love for me the moment he was born. Laura isn't treating Ariel like an outcast. I'm always feeling out of place."

"It's normal to feel out of place Courtney. You just have to pretend none of those worth your peace. Made peace with your soul."

"You're sounding exactly like mum." She spitted before dragging her dress along out of the room closely followed by Mrs Mate to the parking lot where the BMW was already waiting. The guards helped her with the long dress into the car and the four piles were driven out of the compound.

The audit went well and audience were satisfied. But the look on Scott's face wasn't of satisfaction and she knew he won't be moved. She had done it anyways.

"We can have you as our ambassador Miss Courtney. I'm from Milstein Feed and Growth. You can contact us anytime." The Manager said, handling over his business card to her. She took it reluctantly and bow slightly to the man till he left. She dropped the card with Mrs Mate.

"Take the card away from my sight." She said in anger. She wasn't after being an ambassador. She just want to impress her father and he wasn't moved. She stormed out of the stage after numerous pictures from people she barely know.

Malthus sat in front of the TV watching the whole audit exhaustedly. He knew Courtney is better than Ariel in all ways, but Scott gives Ariel the attention that Courtney hardly get half of it. He dropped the remote and rested his back on the cushion. School will start next week, and he wouldn't hear the voices in his head anymore. He doesn't want to.

Courtney stormed in and she met him staring at the TV.

"What are you watching? My audit? You're not supposed to be watching this." She took the remote and switched off the TV.

"You think being angry will help you out of this Court?"

"What will help me out of this, is none of your business Mal. And what do you even care?"

"You can't beat your way up Court. It can't work for you."

"And you know what will work for you? Stay out

of my f**** business. That, will work for you." She bellowed.

"I am not the enemy. And you can't treat me like one."

"You're not the enemy? You think you're not the enemy?," she scoffed before continuing. " You took everything away from me. Mum's love and attention was all I have before you came and you disrupted everything."

"I didn't disrupt anything Court. And mum wasn't to be blamed either. This is not about her, it's about us. And until you get to realise that, just untill then."

"Are you threatening me?"

"What should I gain from threatening you? You're my sister and that's all I want. Even if Father hates us, at least I'm glad I have a sister. So, I'm not alone."

"You're not my brother Mal. And I'll not accept you for the end of the world." She said angrily and left.

He knew nothing he has to say will change her mind about him, but he will keep on trying till the end of the world for her to see reasons why they should stay together and not apart.

As he rested his back on the cushion again, he heard the voice.

"Axel! Axel!"

He obviously thought he was dreaming. He tried pinching himself but none of it working. He wasn't sleeping. He is hearing it all over his head. For the first time in the real world.

"Axel!" The voice became stronger.

He stood up abruptly and made for the lavatory where the voice was coming from.

Melanie was standing in front of the refrigerator holding a bottle of wine in an awkward manner. She is known for getting drunk whenever she is down or emotionally upset. There was a movement right along the pantry. She took the bottle and sluggishly headed for the lavatory. She entered and stayed at the entrance of the toilet in case she'll need to vomit. The steps quickened towards her and the figure in black attacked her from behind, went straight for the neck. As the struggle ensued between the two, someone came out of nowhere. Putting on a ninja looking attire and had the figure of a lady. She had cross swords at her back. She launched herself on the attacker and the fight continue rightly on Malthus entrance.

"Mum!" He quickly made for his already suffocating mother and looked on as the two fight dirty with each other. After recuperating, he just sat there with his mother's head on his lap and watched the two fighting. After some minutes, the attacker escaped through the dormer window. The lady in black stood over him. She was wearing mask, so, he couldn't see.

"This is between us. None of this ever happened, Axel." She said before vanishing into thin air.

For some minutes, he was staring at the window to which both escaped. Just then, Melanie asked weakly.

"What just happened?"

"Nothing, mother."

"I was just attacked and you said nothing."

"You were delusional." He said hardly hearing his own voice.